Understanding Thailand: Some Rules of Thumb That Explain a Lot [S5.E63]

Understanding Thailand: Some Rules of Thumb That Explain a Lot [S5.E63]

Greg and Ed pull together all their accumulated wisdom about Thai culture and society into six pithy theories to aid expats and tourists alike. Ed begins with his classic 'Universal Theory of Thailand," that everything good in the country comes from Thais being so nice, and that everything bad in the country ALSO comes from Thais being so nice. The guys discuss how true this is, before Greg drops his own grand theory that nothing gets improved in Thailand until it becomes embarrassing for Thailand internationally. The boys realize that if a charity or NGO was REALLY smart, they would spend their money on some ultra-famous influencer like Kim Kardashian to harp about some social ill in Thailand. The government would get right on it!

Ed follows with his idea that you can say anything you want to a Thai person, as long as you are smiling while you are doing it. Greg then brings up some VERY practical advice for safety on the streets of Bangkok, and Ed finishes with the irony of how rules work in Thailand, usually not mattering but then eventually REALLY mattering. Then guest of the show Jon concludes with his 'range of the acceptably wrong' theory to help tourists and expats manage expectations in the Land of Smiles.

This may be the episode of the Bangkok Podcast with the most wisdom and insight per minute!

Don't forget that Patrons get the ad-free version of the show as well as swag and other perks. And we'll keep our Facebook, Twitter, and LINE accounts active so you can send us comments, questions, or whatever you want to share.

Episoder(560)

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Author Chris Baker Discusses Thai History, Culture & Conflict [S8.E37] (Classic ReCast)

Author Chris Baker Discusses Thai History, Culture & Conflict [S8.E37] (Classic ReCast)

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17 Mar 37min

Photographer Tim Russell on the Fading Glory of Hualamphong Station [S8.E34] (Classic ReCast)

Photographer Tim Russell on the Fading Glory of Hualamphong Station [S8.E34] (Classic ReCast)

In a ReCast episode from season 7, Greg interviews well known Bangkok-based photographer Tim Russell about his book 'Bangkok Station,' which focuses (literally) on the iconic and now mostly defunct Hu...

4 Mar 44min

Linguist Rikker Dockum on the Royal Institute's Thai Language Oversight [S8.E33] (Classic ReCast)

Linguist Rikker Dockum on the Royal Institute's Thai Language Oversight [S8.E33] (Classic ReCast)

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24 Feb 50min

Election Analysis: Young Thais, Old Parties...New Tricks? [S8E32]

Election Analysis: Young Thais, Old Parties...New Tricks? [S8E32]

Tech Fail Alert! The last 5 minutes of our discussion was cut off by dastardly internet Gremlins, but we said most of what we wanted to say anyway.  In a follow-up to the recent Thai election, Greg an...

17 Feb 32min

Greg & Ed Discuss Ed's Big Thailand Quiz [S8.E31]

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10 Feb 41min

Dreamster's Mario Butler on Thai Music and New Creative Frontiers [S8.E30]

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